The United States’ Global Positioning System (GPS) satellite constellation has received its 31st member, as SpaceX successfully launched the GPS III-7 Space Vehicle 08 (SV-08) into medium Earth orbit on Friday. The launch occurred at 1:37 p.m. EDT from Cape Canaveral Space Force Station using a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket.
SpaceX flew its fourth-generation first-stage booster, tail number B1092, for the mission, marking the 111th successful landing of the booster on the droneship “A Shortfall of Gravitas”. The success comes after Lockheed Martin’s previous GPS III satellite, SV-07, faced challenges during its launch, including issues with transportation and ground testing.
Normally, calling up a GPS satellite from storage can take four to five months to ready it for launch. However, the integration and testing processes have been accelerated significantly, allowing the satellite to be fully prepared in just over two months. This marks an important milestone in the program’s goal of improving the constellation’s resilience and accuracy.
The SV-08 includes Military Code or M-code capabilities, which protect the satellite from interfering communications and spoofing attempts. With this addition, 24 of the GPS satellites currently on orbit have these capabilities, with three more required to meet certain user requirements for accuracy.
The launch marks a significant achievement for the Space Force’s efforts to modernize its GPS system. The program has faced several challenges in recent years, including delays and cost overruns. However, with this successful launch, the program is one step closer to achieving its goal of providing accurate and reliable navigation services to users around the world.
SpaceX will now be responsible for launching two remaining GPS III satellites, which are currently stored at Lockheed Martin’s facilities in Littleton, Colorado. The company has stated that it has no plans to reassign these missions at this time.
Source: https://spaceflightnow.com/2025/05/30/live-coverage-spacex-to-launch-gps-iii-7-mission-on-falcon-9-rocket-from-cape-canaveral